Seat cover for linearly-tufted automobile seats

ABSTRACT

A seat covering for a tufted automobile seat cushions has cover sheets adapted to fit over and around the cushions with a plurality of open-ended channels integrated therewith. Each channel is aligned and associated with a tuft of the cushion after the cover sheet has been fitted over and around the cushion. The covering has a plurality one or more straps, each passing loosely through an associated one of the channels and having strap ends extending from each open-end thereof. Pulling the extending strap ends of each strap after the cover has been fitted over and around the cushion causes the strap to be pulled into the associated tuft to cause the cover sheet to conform to the tuft. A fastener allows for simple and organized connection of the pulled strap ends.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to automobile seat covers. More specifically, theinvention relates to seat covers which eliminate the problem of“trampoline effect” covered tightened over linearly-tufted or cross-tufted automobile seats.

BACKGROUND

Existing covers for automobile seats lie flat and taut over anydepressions and contours (tufting) in the seats, thereby causing theseats to be flat and elastic, rather than cushioning. Such“trampolining” causes the covered seat to look plain and defeats theaesthetic and functional purposes of the tufting. Existing covers tendshift and slip when the user repeatedly gets in and out of the seat.Existing covers are provided with various forms of attachment means,such as elastic straps, hooks, or straps that are tied together afterfitting the cover over the seat. Such means are rife with deficiencies.Among other things, elastic straps stretch permanently and become loose,hooks often damage seats, and tied-together straps are unsightly anddifficult to remove.

There exists the need for a seat cover for tufted automobile seats whicheliminates such trampolining, and such is an object of the invention.There exists the need for a seat cover that holds firm to the seat asthe user repeatedly gets in and out, and such is an additional object ofthe invention. There also exists the need for a simpler andeasier-to-install attachment system for seat covers for automobiles, andsuch is an additional object of the invention.

Further needs and objects exist which are addressed by the presentinvention will become apparent by the included disclosure of anexemplary embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be exemplified by or practiced using seat covers thathave captive but unaffixed straps which align with linear and cross tuftdepressions in the seat and are adapted to be pulled tight such that thestraps and cover sheet are drawn into the tuft depressions. Theinvention may be exemplified by or practiced using seat covers that havestraps or strings loosely captured within and extending from channels onthe inner side of the cover panels, so that when the two ends of a strapor string are pulled tightly and attached together the channels andcover sheet are drawn down into the tuft depressions and the cover sheetthen follows the exact contours of the seat, without trampolining.Tightening of the straps or strings pulls the cover into snug fit withthe seat, while also pulling the panel down into the tuft depressions.This is advantageous over the prior art for at least the followingreasons;

1) The covered seats maintain the aesthetically pleasing tuftedappearance.

2) The covered seats maintain the functional advantages of the tuftedseat.

3) No “trampoline” is formed over the tuft depressions.

4) The seat covers are more securely affixed to the seat to preventslipping from repeated use.

The invention may be exemplified by or practiced using a covering for atufted cushion having a cover sheet adapted to fit over and around thecushion and having one or more channels, each with first and secondopen-ends, each channel integrated with the cover sheet and aligned andassociated with a tuft of the cushion after the cover sheet has beenfitted over and around the cushion, and one or more straps, each passingloosely through an associated one of the channels and having first andsecond strap ends extending from the first and second open ends,respectively. Pulling the extending first and second strap ends of eachstrap after the cover sheet has been fitted over and around the cushionmay cause the strap to be pulled into the associated tuft to cause thecover sheet to conform to the tuft.

The invention may also be exemplified by or practiced using a coveringfor a tufted automobile seat having one or more cover sheets eachadapted to fit over and around one or more cushions of the seat and eachhaving one or more channels, each channel having first and secondopen-ends, and each channel integrated with an associated one of thecover sheets and aligned and associated with a tuft of one of thecushions after the cover sheet has been fitted over and around the oneof the cushions, and one or more straps, each passing loosely through anassociated one of the channels and having first and second strap endsextending from the first and second open ends, respectively. Pulling theextending first and second strap ends of each strap after the coversheet has been fitted over and around the associated cushion may causethe strap to be pulled into the associated tuft to cause the cover sheetto conform to the tuft and the covering to conform to the tufting of theautomobile seat.

The invention may also be exemplified by or practiced using a coveringfor a tufted automobile seat having a cover sheet adapted to fit overand around cushions of the seat and having one or more channels, eachchannel having first and second open-ends, and each channel integratedwith the cover sheet and aligned and associated with a tuft of thecushions after the cover sheet has been fitted over and around thecushions, and one or more straps, each passing loosely through anassociated one of the channels and having first and second strap endsextending from the first and second open ends, respectively. Pulling theextending first and second strap ends of each strap after the coversheet has been fitted over and around the cushions may cause the strapto be pulled into the associated tuft to cause the cover sheet toconform to the tuft and the covering to conform to the tufting of theautomobile seat.

Each first strap end may have a fastener. The fastener may have parallelslots for receiving the associated second strap end. Each strap may befrom the group comprising fabric strapping, cord, string, plastic line,cable, and wire. each strap has a strap width and each parallel slot hasa slot width smaller than the strap width to receive strap bycompression fit. Each channel may be integrated to cover sheet by sewingthe cover sheet into a channel, sewing them to the cover sheet, oradhering them to the cover sheet.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with morespecificity in the detailed description and drawings provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference tothe following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is an exploded front perspective view of a prior art seat coverbeing attached to a linear-tufted front automobile seat;

FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the prior art seat cover of FIG.1A attached to the seat of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of a novel seat coveraccording to a first embodiment being attached to the linear-tuftedfront automobile seat of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the seat cover of FIG. 2 beingattached to the seat of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the seat cover of FIG. 2 beingattached to the seat of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the seat cover of FIG. 2 attachedto the seat of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 6A through 6E are a sequential series of views of the cordconnection system of the seat cover of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the seat cover of FIG. 2being attached to a linear tufted automobile seat;

FIG. 7B is a partial cross-sectional view of seat cover of FIG. 7Aattached to the seat of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a linear-tufted automobile seatwearing a novel seat cover according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a cross-tufted automobile seatwearing a novel seat cover according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a novel seat cover according to afourth embodiment being attached to a linear-tufted rear automobileseat;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the seat cover of FIG. 10 beingattached to the linear-tufted rear automobile seat of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the seat cover of FIG. 10attached to the linear-tufted rear automobile seat of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fastener of the seat cover of FIG.10; and

FIG. 14 is an inside view of the seat cover of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS:

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a typical prior art seat cover 500 andtypical automobile seat 502 are show. It can be seen in FIG. 1A that theseat has linearly tufted depressions 504 (tufts). It can also be seen inFIG. 1B that after installation, the tufts are gone. These tufts havenumerous intended advantages that are thereby lost; including theincreased comfort provided by the tufting, the airflow that the tuftingenabled between the seat and the sitter, and the aesthetic improvementthat the tufting provided. Not shown is the unsightly tying together ofthe affixing straps 506 behind the seat. Because easily-untieable bowshave a tendency to come untied inadvertently, most users tie the strapsin “granny knots”, which are unlikely to untie inadvertently but areugly and very difficult to purposely untie in the event that the seatcover is to be removed . . . especially when considering the awkwardaccess to the knots because of their position in the automobile.

FIGS. 2 through 5 show the same tufted seat 502, but now with a seatcover 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. Itcan be readily appreciated from viewing FIG. 5 that the linear tufts 504of the seat are maintained after installation of seat cover 100.

While the seat cover 100 of the first embodiment employs a two-partarrangement with separate cover sheets 110T and 110B for the top andbottom automobile seat cushions, respectively, the cover sheet couldalternatively be a one-part arrangement, as in the bench seat embodiment200 described later in this disclosure, wherein a larger cover sheetcovers both the top and bottom cushions and also has straps extendingfrom the center of the sheet, tied to a double-fastener 250 that ispassed through the gap between the cushions. The straps may be made offabric strapping, cord, string, plastic line, cable, wire, or anysuitable material.

Seat cover 100 is equipped with straps 106 which are positioned to alignwith the tufts 504 of the seat once the seat cover is installed. Avariety of such seat covers would be made available, each with straps inposition specifically chosen to align with the tufts of a specificautomobile model. For instance, a first automobile model may have threeevenly spaced tufts. A second may have four unevenly spaced tufts. Athird may have tufts going side-to-side. And a fourth may have bothfront-to-back and side-to-side tufts (cross-tufting). The purchaserwould choose and purchase the seat cover that was intended to fit theseat of his specific automobile model. FIGS. 8 and 9 show typicalarrangements for a linear two-tuft seat 560 and cover 300 and across-tufted seat 562 and cover 400, respectively. In the cross-tuftedseat cover 400, additional horizontal straps 406H are provided to pullthe cover sheet into the horizontal tufts 504H.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, it can be seen that fabric channels 108are integrated with the cover sheets 110 of the seat cover, and thatstraps 106 “float” within and unattached to the channels . . . similarto the drawstring of a hooded sweater. Referring back to the bottomcover sheet 110B of FIG. 2, it is seen that the ends (forward end 112Fand back end 112R) extend from the channels and cover sheets. Back ends112R have tied or otherwise affixed thereto a novel fastener which willbe later described. Pulling of one of the ends at this stage will causethe strap to slide within the channel Pulling on both ends while thechannel is wrapped around something will cause the channel to compress,just as the aforesaid drawstring causes the hood of the aforesaid seaterto compress when both ends of the drawstring are pulled.

The straps may be integrated with the cover sheet by any functionalmeans, such as sewing the sheet into a channel, sewing a channel to thesheet, of otherwise adhering a channel to the sheet.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the initial installation steps of the seatcover is the same as with prior art; the cover sheets 110T and 110B arefirst fitted loosely over the top 502T and bottom 502B cushions,respectively, of the seat, and the ends of each strap are passed eitherover, under, or between the top and bottom cushions, as applicable, andpulled tightly from behind the seat as a pair to initially snug thecover sheet to the cushion.

Unique to the present seat covers is that, as in FIG. 4, the pulling ofthe ends of each pair of strap ends pulls the strap, channel, andcoversheet down into the tuft with which it is aligned, as in FIG. 5. InFIG. 5 it can be seen that the covered seat mimics the exact tuftedshape of the uncovered seat.

In FIGS. 6A through 6E a novel fastener 150 is shown which may be usedwith seat cover 100 or which may be used in other applications. It istherefore intended that the fastener may be considered a feature of thepresent invention or may sometimes be useful in other applications as anindependent invention on its own. The fastener simplifies seat coverinstallation, allows for simple and fast removal, and maintains straporganization, making the seat cover more pleasing to the eye.

As initially supplied, a fastener 150 is tied or otherwise permanentlyaffixed to back end 112R of each the strap. The back end with thefastener is fed under or over the automobile seat cushion the positionshown in FIG. 6A. FIGS. 6A to 6E show attachment to the seat's topcushion, so the fastener has been fed between the top and bottom seatcushions and the forward strap end 112F hangs down. For the bottom coversheet and seat cushion, the orientation of these Figs would be flippedupside-down.

As seen in FIG. 6B, the forward end 112F of the strap is then fedthrough hole 152 of the fastener.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the forward end of the strap is then pulled tautto secure the coversheet over the top cushion and to pull the strap intothe related seat tuft.

As shown in FIG. 6D, the tautly-pulled forward end is then wound aroundthe fastener in an “X” fashion as it is fitted into slots 154, whichhave a slot width slightly smaller than the width of the strap totightly grasp the strap by compression fit. FIG. 6E shows the finalarrangement.

FIGS. 10 through 14 show a bench seat cover embodiment 200 for use witha tufted automobile bench seat 602. In this case, a single larger coversheet 210 serves to cover both the top and bottom cushions, 602T and602B, respectively, of the seat. The seat shown has three linear tufts604, so there are accordingly three sets of straps 206T and 206B, withassociated channels 208 for each the top and bottom seat cushion.Referring to FIG. 14, which looks at the inside of the seat cover, itcan be seen that the channels are discontinued and open midway up theseat cover. This horizontal line of openings 208D corresponds to the gapbetween the automobile seat's top and bottom cushions. Each top cushionstrap 206T extends both from the open top of its channel 208T and fromthe open discontinuance 208D of its channel, where it has been affixedto double-fastener 250. Each bottom cushion strap 206B extends both fromthe open bottom of its channel 208B and from the open discontinuance208D of its channel, where it has also been affixed to thedouble-fastener.

Each double fastener with its affixed strap ends is pushed through thegap between the seat's top and bottom cushions, the cover sheet isdraped over the top and bottom cushions, and the strap ends are allpulled to snug the cover to the seat. The double-fastener 250 functionssimilarly to the single fastener 150 previously described, except has apair of slots 254 at each end, as shown in FIG. 13, for receiving thestrap ends from over the top cushion and under the bottom cushion. Thestrap ends are then wound around the fastener in “X” fashion while beingfitted into the associated slots, just as in the single fastenerpreviously described.

It should be noted that the embodiment shown herein is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention. The invention therefore only belimited by the follow claims, including any equivalent interpretation towhich they are entitled.

I claim:
 1. A covering for a tufted cushion comprising; a cover sheetadapted to fit over and around the cushion and having one or morechannels, each with first and second open-ends, each channel integratedwith the cover sheet and aligned and associated with a tuft of thecushion after the cover sheet has been fitted over and around thecushion; and one or more straps, each passing loosely through anassociated one of the channels and having first and second strap endsextending from the first and second open ends, respectively; wherebypulling the extending first and second strap ends of each strap afterthe cover sheet has been fitted over and around the cushion causes thestrap to be pulled into the associated tuft to cause the cover sheet toconform to the tuft.
 2. The covering of claim 1 wherein each channel isintegrated to cover sheet by sewing the cover sheet into a channel 3.The covering of claim 1 wherein each channel is integrated to the coversheet by sewing them to the cover sheet
 4. The covering of claim 1wherein each channel is integrated to the cover sheet by adhering themto the cover sheet
 5. A covering for a tufted automobile seatcomprising; one or more cover sheets each adapted to fit over and aroundone or more cushions of the seat and each having one or more channels;each channel having first and second open-ends, and each channelintegrated with an associated one of the cover sheets and aligned andassociated with a tuft of one of the cushions after the cover sheet hasbeen fitted over and around the one of the cushions; and one or morestraps, each passing loosely through an associated one of the channelsand having first and second strap ends extending from the first andsecond open ends, respectively; whereby pulling the extending first andsecond strap ends of each strap after the cover sheet has been fittedover and around the associated cushion causes the strap to be pulledinto the associated tuft to cause the cover sheet to conform to the tuftand the covering to conform to the tufting of the automobile seat. 6.The covering of claim 5 wherein each first strap end comprises afastener.
 7. The covering of claim 6 wherein the fastener comprisesparallel slots for receiving the associated second strap end.
 8. Thecovering of claim 7 wherein each strap is from the group comprisingfabric strapping, cord, string, plastic line, cable, and wire.
 9. Thecovering of claim 8 wherein each strap has a strap width and eachparallel slot has a slot width smaller than the strap width to receivestrap by compression fit.
 10. The covering of claim 9 wherein eachchannel is integrated to cover sheet by sewing the cover sheet into achannel
 11. The covering of claim 9 wherein each channel is integratedto the cover sheet by sewing them to the cover sheet
 12. The covering ofclaim 9 wherein each channel is integrated to the cover sheet byadhering them to the cover sheet
 13. A covering for a tufted automobileseat comprising; a cover sheet adapted to fit over and around cushionsof the seat and having one or more channels; each channel having firstand second open-ends, and each channel integrated with the cover sheetand aligned and associated with a tuft of the cushions after the coversheet has been fitted over and around the cushions; and one or morestraps, each passing loosely through an associated one of the channelsand having first and second strap ends extending from the first andsecond open ends, respectively; whereby pulling the extending first andsecond strap ends of each strap after the cover sheet has been fittedover and around the cushions causes the strap to be pulled into theassociated tuft to cause the cover sheet to conform to the tuft and thecovering to conform to the tufting of the automobile seat.
 14. Thecovering of claim 13 wherein each first strap end comprises a fastener.15. The covering of claim 14 wherein the fastener comprises parallelslots for receiving the associated second strap end.
 16. The covering ofclaim 15 wherein each strap is from the group comprising fabricstrapping, cord, string, plastic line, cable, and wire.
 17. The coveringof claim 16 wherein each strap has a strap width and each parallel slothas a slot width smaller than the strap width to receive strap bycompression fit.
 18. The covering of claim 17 wherein each channel isintegrated to cover sheet by sewing the cover sheet into a channel 19.The covering of claim 17 wherein each channel is integrated to the coversheet by sewing them to the cover sheet
 20. The covering of claim 17wherein each channel is integrated to the cover sheet by adhering themto the cover sheet